dennis skinner. [shouting] >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i know members across the house will have been appalled by last night cowardly terrorist attack in new york. our thoughts are with all those affected and we stand united with the people of new york. >> here, here. >> mr. speaker, mims on both sides of the house have been deeply concerned about allegations of the treatment in westminster. my right honorable friend the leader of the house has been meeting with counterparts in hopeful all sides can work together quickly to resolve this. i have written to all party leaders inviting them to meeting early next week so we can discuss a common transparent independent grievance procedure for all those working in parliament. we have a duty to ensure everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect. >> here, here. >> mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and in addition to my duties in this house, i shall have further such meetings later today. >> dennis skinner. >> is

. >> dennis skinner. there's been some very powerful research done on the question of high speed rail. what he says is that in the leafy suburbs of the south, the first 140 miles, 30% of it has been dedicated to tunnelling to avoid knocking houses down. yet in the north, we are now told that the percentage is only 2% for the whole of the north. why? because hs 2 says it's too costly. knock the houses down. will she arrange for a meeting with people from my area in order to avoid another 30 houses being knocked down in newton. isn't it high time that this government stop treating our people like second class citizens? knch >> i'm sure the department of transport will be happy to look into the question that he has raised. but of course hs 2, the reason why they're doing hs 2 is that it is important to increase the capacity of the railway lines going through to the north. this will be a very important contribution to the united kingdom economy. and i can assure him if he looks at everything this government h

dennis skinner. [shouting]